This bill establishes new restrictions on the acquisition of real property by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Iowa. It prohibits the DNR from acquiring real property available for sale at public auctions and mandates that any acquisitions must come from willing donors or sellers who are not under any compulsion from the department. Additionally, the DNR is restricted from acquiring property for more than its appraised value from nonprofit corporations that purchased the property at public auctions.

However, the bill includes an exception that allows the DNR to acquire real property from public auctions or nonprofit corporations if the acquisition supports a local or statewide conservation or recreation plan and is approved by the natural resource commission. The bill also amends existing law to clarify that the commission may accept gifts of land or property, subject to the new restrictions outlined in the bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 461A.11